ONLINE: Blades of Eternity - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: PUSHING THE LIMITS

In the VIP area overlooking the tournament, Carmilia, the Ice Queen, sat with her usual cold demeanor, her sharp eyes fixed on the platform where Kaelen had just secured his victory against Eldric. For a brief moment, her icy gaze softened, betraying a flicker of surprise at the boy’s battle prowess. Beside her, Vlahiç, the Fleeting Spear, who had been watching with his arms crossed, narrowed his eyes as he leaned slightly forward in his seat, intrigued by Kaelen’s mastery of the sword and magic.

“Impressive,” Vlahiç muttered under his breath, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Carmilia, too, found herself momentarily unsettled. “Who is this boy?” she mused quietly, her breath condensing in the air like frost. Kaelen’s strength and determination had caught her off guard, something that rarely happened.

As for Lila who stood behind Carmilia, her heart suddenly stirred by Kaelen’s brilliant performance. Not only that, but her eyes began to get watery when she noticed the two pillars of the academy actually have their attention now on Kaelen.

‘You can do this Kaelen’ She eventually thought with a hopeful expression on her face after she remembered the promise Kaelen gave her master Carmilia the Ice queen out of furiousity and resolve.

“You will regret this”

As for the student who stood silently behind Vlahiç all these time, his face suddenly twitched for only a brief moment before it came back to being stalwart.

But then, just as quickly as the two pillars admiration for Kaelen surfaced, it disappeared. Carmilia’s lips curled into a cold smile, and she leaned back in her seat, her icy poise returning. Vlahiç, shaking off his surprise, mirrored her actions and reclined in his chair with a smug look.

They both turned their attention to General Cao, who sat a few seats away, his face unreadable and stoic as ever. He made no move to acknowledge Kaelen’s victory, his gaze instead remaining focused ahead. Carmilia saw this as an opportunity.

“Well, General,” Carmilia began, her voice laced with mockery, “it seems your golden pupil, Kaelen, has made quite a name for himself. But…” She glanced over at the platform, where Morris and Guinevere were preparing for their match. “Your dear Guinevere… It’s such a shame she’s about to face Morris, isn’t it? After all, she’s already proven that she isn’t quite… up to the mark, hasn’t she?”

Vlahiç chuckled lightly, joining in on the taunt. “Indeed. The poor girl barely lasted against Kaelen. Do you think she’ll fare any better this time?” He shot a glance at Guinevere, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “It must be difficult for you, General, seeing your prized pupils struggle so publicly.”

Carmilia’s smile grew colder as she observed General Cao for any reaction. But to her dismay, the old warrior remained indifferent. He didn’t so much as flinch at their words. His gaze stayed fixed on the arena below, his expression calm and unaffected by their taunts.

Annoyed by his lack of response, Carmilia leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. “Are you not worried, General? Guinevere might embarrass herself again. Or do you have that little faith in her?”

General Cao finally stirred, though only slightly. He turned his head just enough to give them both a sidelong glance, his eyes betraying no emotion. “I have no doubts about my students,” he said calmly, his deep voice resonating with a quiet authority. “Let them fight their battles. The outcome will speak for itself.”

With that, he returned his gaze to the platform, completely unfazed by their attempts to provoke him. His indifference only served to irritate Carmilia and Vlahiç further, but they could do nothing more than exchange irritated glances.

“How typical of him,” Vlahiç grumbled under his breath, leaning back into his seat with a frown. “Always so smug.”

Carmilia’s icy eyes hardened. “Let’s see if his confidence holds up after this next battle,” she hissed softly.

Though Kaelen had surprised them both, Carmilia and Vlahiç were still determined to undermine General Cao’s calm exterior. But for now, the General remained unshaken, watching with unwavering composure as the next battle in the tournament was about to unfold.

As the match between Morris and Guinevere commenced, the atmosphere in the coliseum turned electric. Thousands of spectators who were observing this platform leaned forward, anticipation building as the two combatants stepped onto the platform. Even among the VIP section, murmurs of intrigue rippled through the pillars of the academy. General Cao, Carmilia, and Vlahiç all watched with keen interest as the two contenders faced off, their auras blazing with intent.

Morris stood with his new scepter in hand, his gaze steely but calm. A swirl of blue mana cascaded around him, illuminating his form like an aura of boundless energy. Guinevere, on the other hand, was an embodiment of fire. Her crimson hair blazed like an inferno, and her eyes glowed with fierce determination. Flames licked at the edges of her feet, dancing in wild patterns, while her hands shimmered with heat, prepared to unleash destruction.

They were a sight to behold—fire and magic, raw and untamed, about to clash in an epic showdown.

Without a word, the duel began.

Guinevere was the first to strike, raising her arms as waves of fire burst from her fingertips, surging across the platform with a roar. Her flames twisted and twined like snakes, forming an intricate web of fire meant to trap Morris within. The heat was intense, drawing gasps from the audience as the flames roared hungrily toward their target.

But Morris was ready. With a powerful thrust of his scepter, he conjured a barrier of water, the cool blue liquid swirling around him in protective tendrils. The flames met the water with a violent hiss, steam rising in thick plumes. Morris pushed forward, his magic effortlessly repelling the inferno as he advanced.

Guinevere gritted her teeth, refusing to back down. Her fire magic surged again, this time coiling into tight, concentrated blasts. She hurled them toward Morris with precision, the air crackling with heat as the attacks soared through the arena.

Morris parried with ease, his mana reserves deep and endless. He retaliated with a spell of his own, sending streaks of lightning arcing toward her from his scepter. Guinevere barely managed to dodge the first few, but one struck her shoulder, sending her skidding backward. She grimaced but kept her ground, her fiery determination unwavering.

The spectators watched in awe as the two combatants pushed themselves to the limit. Every clash was a spectacle of raw power. Guinevere unleashed her elusive arts of flames, her entire body becoming enveloped in fire as she called upon her most advanced techniques. Columns of flame erupted from the ground, and fire serpents circled the arena, striking at Morris from every angle.

Morris countered with waves of water and lightning, his control of the elements impeccable. He spun his scepter with expert precision, sending torrents of magic to neutralize Guinevere’s attacks while launching counterattacks that kept her on the defensive. His mana reserves seemed endless, and every spell he cast came with the force of a crashing ocean.

Guinevere wasn’t deterred. She roared, pushing her fire magic to its absolute limits. Her flames grew hotter, more intense, until the very air around her began to shimmer with heat. She leaped into the air, channeling her energy into a single, devastating attack. As she descended, she unleashed a fiery explosion that lit up the entire coliseum. The blast was so powerful that the very stone beneath her feet began to melt, and the platform shook with the force of it.

When General Cao saw what Guinevere was doing, his eyes sudddenly widened in shock as he speedily stood up from his chair while he thought.

‘She did it!’

Morris responded with a massive surge of water, pushing his mana reserves to the brink. The water collided with the flames, dousing them just before they could reach him. Steam filled the air, shrouding the entire arena in a thick cloud of mist. For a moment, neither competitor could be seen through the haze.

Then, as the mist began to clear, the spectators gasped.

Morris stood firm, his clothes slightly singed but otherwise unharmed. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes still gleamed with mana as his scepter crackled with power. Guinevere, on the other hand, had dropped to one knee, panting heavily. The flames around her flickered weakly, her body drenched in sweat from the exertion.

Despite her overwhelming firepower, Guinevere had reached her limit.

Morris, however, seemed to have more to give. He took a deep breath and raised his scepter one final time. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a wave of mana that surged toward Guinevere, knocking her off balance and sending her sprawling across the platform. The fire around her was extinguished, leaving her lying on the stone, utterly spent.

The coliseum fell silent for a moment, the audience absorbing what had just happened. Then, slowly, a roar of applause erupted from the stands. Morris had done it—he had pushed through the limits of both himself and his opponent, emerging victorious due to his boundless mana capacity.

As the crowd cheered, Guinevere managed to lift her head and smile faintly. She had given it her all, but Morris had proven to be an unstoppable force.

The match was over.